Monday, April 23, 2012

I am very familiar with the colonoscopy medical procedure, due to family health history on my mother's side of the family. Up to now, when I think of this word, I think of it as relating to my late mother or my late maternal grandmother. That as now changed. At age 37, I am about to undergo a baseline colonoscopy, recommended by age 40 for those who have colon disease and/or colon cancer in their family history. I don't know of anyone when scheduling an appointment to have this done, who is filled with excitement at the prospect of having one done, and that includes me. I, however, am doing this and in the process, I hope to serve as an example and spread awareness especially to my generation of 30-somethings who are coming up on this important age for a baseline colonoscopy due to the same kind of family health history that I have.

I chose for today to be the day when I share this news to most of my friends and family. Up to this point, my husband and my in-laws are the only ones who knew about this.

Yes, I am "The Southern Fried Bride", and with that comes what I view as my responsibility to educate about incorporating good health choices into your life whenever you can.

I decided to go ahead and do this earlier this year in my doctor's office, after receiving a glowing health report. With illness on both my mother's and father's sides of my family, I am incredibly thankful and blessed for this kind of good health report, and I am daily grateful for every single day that I have good health.

I then was referred to a gastroenterologist at University Hospital in Syracuse, where I went to have my initial visit. During the visit, they showed me a video about what to expect during the colonoscopy procedure. I told the PA who visited with me that day, "I hope I can serve as an example to people about how important it is to have this done. That day my colonoscopy procedure was scheduled for the morning of tomorrow's date: April 24. Yes, I said "tomorrow's date".

Today, I am on the standard liquid diet to prepare for the procedure, just no red or purple in color like Jell-o. As I write this, I have embarked on the 4-liter liquid prep regiman known as "NuLYTELY", a version of the more commonly-known "GoLYTELY. Either way, they are referred to by many familiar with them as "GoRoughly".

God bless everyone who has taken this before me. I had heard about "flavorings" they now offer for these, and I was surprised that my container came not with one, but four, flavor packets to choose from to add to the powder mixture at the bottom of the container, if desired. I chose the orange flavoring, and it seems like it has made it a little better than it might have been with no flavoring, or with one of the other flavorings offered.

The one drawback I have about this procedure is the fact my mother experienced one of the possible side effects that can happen during one of the times she was having the procedure done: a hole was punctured in her colon. If that does happen, it can go one of two ways. It can heal on its own or it can potentially become serious. Because my mother was diagnosed with a colon condition called "ulcerative colitis" during my senior year in high school, she went on to have an annual colonoscopy proedure. It became a routine for our family. My sophomore year of college, during her procedure, a hole was punctured in her colon and she nearly died. She was immediately sent to ICU where she remained for several days. Thankfully she eventually was able to come home to me.

My husband and I have talked about this possible side effect that happens to a small percentage of patients. We discussed the pros and cons of me having this procedure done in a sense "electively" as a baseline colonoscopy and we decided together that it is a good idea for me to go ahead and have this done. We are anticipating a smooth procedure tomorrow, and then I will be home by tomorrow afternoon if all goes well. It is with determination that I face this head on, for my own health's sake.

What I would ask of you is, if you are a person of faith, I would appreciate your thoughts and prayers tomorrow morning as I undergo this outpatient procedure. I am looking forward to checking in with you on Wednesday and sharing with you more information about colon health. Until then, for me it's back to what I call my dose of orange-flavored "Ack!".

Sunday, April 22, 2012

I have added something new to my ever-growing "Favorite Things" list: Mango Strawberry-flavored Spark®. Recently, local AdvoCare Distributor Kara Smith introduced me to Spark® Energy Drink and it has been a part of my daily routine ever since. It contains 21 vitamins, minerals and nutrients and is available in 7 flavors. I chose the Mango Strawberry flavor and I find this flavor to be tangy and tasty. I love that it is sugar-free and only 45 calories per serving.

I tried Spark® in the pouches first, and when I decided that I wanted to use this product daily, I chose the cost-effective canister size.

Thanks to birthday girl Kara's generosity, one of you will win a box of AdvoCare Spark® Energy Drink pouches (14 count), valued at $22.95, in your choice of flavor!

Here is the direct link to Kara's AdvoCare page here, where you can learn more about this company and their products, including Spark®, and even place an order. She also has a blog here.

To enter the giveaway, click "Read more" below and an entry widget should come up on the screen for you. If you have trouble entering, please e-mail me at angelaskitchen@rocketmail.com

FTC Disclaimer: I was provided with a giveaway prize of 1 box AdvoCare Spark® Energy Drink pouches (14 count), valued at $22.95, by AdvoCare Distributor Kara Smith. I was in no way financially compensated for this blog post. The opinions expressed in this blog post are my own.

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Welcome to the bloggers visiting my blog through UBP 2012! I'm Angela, The Southern Fried Bride, a thirty-something Oklahoma girl turned very happy housewife in New York. I share a glimpse into my life as a newlywed who holds tight to my Southern raising and loves to serve up my favorite recipes. I'm a proud Delta Zeta alumnae, Beta Sigma Phi and a Wizard of Oz collector. I love monograms, etiquette, Lilly Pulitzer designs, cooking, baking and all things pink and green.

I hope you all will sit a spell and let me serve you some of my virtual punch.

This is "Southern Fried Bride's Berry Grapeful Party Punch” and here is the recipe:

Saturday, April 14, 2012

I am incredibly excited to have recently reached my 5,000 fans milestone on The Southern Fried Bride's Facebook page! In celebration, I thought there was no time like now to post my first "vlog" video segment to share with all of you! This gives you a glimpse into my newlywed kitchen here in New York, which has lots of pink in it, and my "special guest" for this segment, my new crockpot I won from Coupon Loving Chicks who is dressed in his tuxedo from The Posh Pot I won as part of the same giveaway, to celebrate my special milestone. I asked my Facebook fans to submit questions for this segment and I chose one to answer. In appreciation for submitting the chosen question, I will send Stephanie Fox of Florida a $10 Wal-Mart gift card. The recipe I share during this segment, I will post both on my Facebook page and here on the blog.

I have included a trivia giveaway with this vlog. I will be asking a question about this video segment on The Southern Fried Bride Facebook page Monday, April 16 at 12:00 pm EST and the first person to post the correct answer will win the prize I unveil in this video!

A winner has been chosen for the "Spring Entertaining Giveaway"! Thank you so much to the generous and gracious sponsor, Splash of Pink, a Lilly Pulitzer Signature Store. The winner will receive a Lilly Pulitzer home entertaining accessories set, valued at $128.

If you didn't win, but want to know more about any of these beautiful entertaining accessories, you can find out more about them, as well as an array of other fun accessories and amazing fashions, by visiting the Splash of Pink website. Right now they are offering free ground shipping on all orders over $50.

FTC Disclaimer: Splash of Pink, a Lilly Pulitzer Signature Store provided me with the giveaway prizes listed above, with a total value of $128. All opinions expressed in this blog post are my own.

Monday, April 9, 2012

Easter has been a very special holiday to me ever since I was a little girl. Here is The Southern Fried Bride at Easter, 1977.

Here I am with The Southern Fried Husband on Our First Easter as Mr. and Mrs. 2012 at my in-laws' home in Binghamton, New York. I wore a Lilly Pulitzer dress in Classic White "Bucket O' Goodies" with blue embroidery and Craig was matching in sky blue.

Our family attended Easter morning church service at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Vestal, New York. It was a beautiful, uplifting service. We had Easter Dinner at Traditions at the Glen. I loved our table with linen napkins of all the wonderful Easter pastel colors! Traditions served a wonderful meal. One of my favorite dishes on the menu was the Creamy Whipped Garlic Herb Mashed Potatoes and my favorite dessert on the menu was their chocolate layer cake.

The Easter Bunny still comes and visits me, even though I'm all grown up now. Here is what the Easter Bunny (aka Mr. Alpaugh) brought me this Easter:

Here is a picture of what I gave my husband Craig for Easter: his first Lilly Pulitzer men's necktie in pink and green "Fireflies" print. I also gave him his favorite Reese's peanut butter egg, but it disappeared before it could be photographed with the necktie, hehe!

This is my favorite way to make use of any leftover Easter chocolate candy (IF you have any leftover...ha!). I use it to make this chocolate mousse dessert.

I love the way JCPenney has re-branded their company. When I saw their April commercial to the song "Sunshine, Lollipops and Rainbows", I loved it so much, that I paid a visit to their store the very day I first saw it and went straight to the shoe department. I found my newest pair of spring shoes that I am wore on Good Friday: blue denim wedges with bow detail. Mr. Bunny wanted to be in the picture, too. He sings an Easter version of "Rockin' Robin" with a special background singer hiding inside the egg. ♥

Be watching this week for the announcement of the "Spring Entertaining Giveaway" winner!